Compare towns
Barre vs Swampscott vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Barre | Swampscott | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
15,277Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
| North Brookfield and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Swampscott and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Swampscott | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Swampscott High | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.7 |
5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.